Due to positive response, the company is accelerating its plans

Sep 20, 2012 09:52 GMT  ·  By

Western Digital announced its thinnest ever platter spinners in the first half of the current month (September, 2012), but it has since reconsidered its roadmap for this product type.

Originally, Western Digital aimed to start mass production of the 5mm HDD in 2013, probably around CES 2012 (Consumer Electronics Show) or afterwards.

A report now says that it will not be taking the company so long after all, due to positive response on the part of notebook vendors and ODMs (original device manufacturers).

No doubt Western Digital felt that it could afford to give itself more time, especially since it had another excuse: design and manufacturing annoyances.

Unlike 9.5mm-thick drives, or even 7.5mm models, 5mm rely on new components and manufacturing processes, plus modified testing and specification certifications.

Waiting until 2013 would have given WD time to streamline these elements, possibly lowering the final price range of 5mm drives.

That ODMs and notebook vendors are so eager to get them despite all this implies that the price difference is considered to be worth it.

The roadmap has been moved forward not just for 5mm HDD, but for hybrid drives as well.

All we can say is that this decision, if true, can only help the ultrabook market, since HDDs, even at a premium, are far cheaper than the SSDs that suppliers favor so. More information on this matter should emerge over the coming weeks.

Until then, we will have our hands filled with the many ultrabooks that notebook makers are itching to launch but can't, not until Microsoft releases its Windows 8 operating system. October 26 is when the floodgates will be opened.

ASUS and Acer are two of the brands that intend to adopt WD's 5mm drives as soon as possible, but we are sure everyone else is just as interested. Ultrabooks need lower prices after all, and SSDs don't help there much.